The rest of the sleepover passed almost seamlessly, the girls ate breakfast together, they built a blanket fort and they spent the day watching movies while munching on snacks. Rachel's stomach was full and so was her heart, although as the day progressed, Rachel began to feel anxious, the doubts in her mind about the two girls in her company growing louder and louder. And so around 4pm, she made her excuses and made a move to head home. Santana and Brittany both insisted on driving her home, they didn't want the sleepover to end so soon but knew it would take a while before Rachel would want to spend as much time as possible with them both.
Rachel was uncharacteristically silent for the duration of the journey home, flashing a faint smile as she exited the car. "Thank you for a pleasant sleepover!" She couldn't help being so formal, now that she was once again feeling guarded and insecure, a little niggling thought telling her that a friendship between the cheerleaders and herself would never last and was more likely a prank than not.
"We should do it again soon, Rachie! I miss you already!"
"Mm, soon, Rae." Santana agreed, her smile somewhat strained, she could feel Rachel pulling away already and she wasn't sure what had caused it. The sleepoever had been a success, her girls had had fun together, she'd seen little Rachie! What had gone wrong? It felt like Rachel was breaking up with them both, ending things. Not that there was anything to end between them, yet.
The young cheerleaders watched as Rachel entered her house, Brittany's brow furrowing in worry as Rachel barely waved goodbye before disappearing across the threshold.
"What happened, Sanny?"
Santana let out a small sigh as she pulled away from Rachel's house, regret for her past actions pooling in her stomach. "She doesn't trust us yet. She doesn't trust /me/ yet."
———
As soon as Rachel entered her home she was met with a deafening silence. After a day of giggles and snuggles with two unlikely souls, she felt even more alone than ever when entering her empty house. Her fathers wouldn't be back for a few more weeks and she had nothing but her own company until then. Letting out a quiet sigh, Rachel made her way straight to the laundry room, throwing her pyjamas from the night before into the washer, along with her clothes from the day before, setting it to wash. She then made her way to the kitchen to take a cursory glance inside the refrigerator, seeing what food she had in although knowing she wasn't going to eat any of it and quickly shutting the door once again without taking anything. The silence was deafening. There was no one to keep her company except herself, and Mr Harrison until Monday morning when she would head back to school. And likely have her life ruined by Santana. There was no way the sleepover was real. It felt real.. but it couldn't be? Right? It was a one off. There is no way Santana has really changed. There is no way she'll want her around. Especially now that she's seen Little Rae! Oh my god. The whole world is going to know. As the anxious thoughts began to fill Rachel's mind, a small fearful sob escaped her lips, there was nothing that could be done now, she'd just have to keep her head held high and survive through what was to come. But that didn't stop the worried tears, or her arms finding their way around Mr Harrison as she hugged him to her chest. Rachel needed to complete all her homework, ready for Monday, but that could be a Sunday job. Today she was too worried and anxious to do anything productive, instead opting to take herself to bed super early and cuddle up with her favourite bear. The silence in the house was awful but it wouldn't be as bad as the taunts she would be receiving in a few days time.
"You's my only friend, Mr Harrison."
She said to her favourite bear, while pushing away the thoughts that tried to remind her that Santana had made a pinky promise the night before so there must be some truth to the sleepover. No no.. she couldn't believe it.